Trainer Liam Birchley will be out to add another success to his two-year-old honour roll when he sends out Swift Dragon in the Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic QTIS 2YO Plate over 1200m at Rockhampton on Saturday.
The son of Dracarys already has a big feature race win behind his name having saluted in the $500 000 AQUIS QTIS Jewel 2YO over 1200m at the Gold Coast back on March 14.
He was beaten into third place in a subsequent start in the $125 000 Pat O’Shea Plate over 1200m at Toowoomba, but that was still a highly creditable run when coming home only 1.31 lengths behind the smart winner, Apostle, who was winning for the second time in three starts and who completed back-to-back wins in that race.
Adding to Swift Dargon’s credentials for Saturday’s assignment is the fact that he has already raced … and won … at Rockhampton when getting his Maiden win out of the way on debut at the track over 1050m. So, even as a visiting runner, he will not be in unfamiliar territory.
Ryan Wiggins, who has partnered the chestnut in all of his five starts, has the ride and he will set Swift Dragon on his way from pole position having come up with the number one barrier draw,
The Georgie Holt trained Better Blitzem will renew his rivalry with Swift Dragon on Saturday and, he too has string claims to having a major say in the outcome.
Unbeaten in his first four starts (three in Townsville, where he is based, and one in Mackay) the son of Better Than Ready travelled down to the Gold Coast for the QTIS Jewel and, although he had his colours lowered for the first time, there was plenty to like about his third place finish, 2.23 lengths behind Swift Dragon.
That results, in isolation, suggests Better Blitzem will have to find a couple of lengths if he is to reverse the result with the Birchley trained runner, but it also suggests, as it is with two-year-olds on day to day, week to week basis, that it is not impossible for Better Blitzem to have made that progression inbetween runs.
Swift Dragon and Better Blitzem are the only two runners in the field to have been tested over 1200m before.
Clinton Taylor is the trainer who has loaded up number-wise.
He has five of the twelve runners due to face the starter … On Location (a last start winner), Coal Seam (who was a debut winner who then followed up with a second place finish next time out), Missile Baby (who won her only start at double figure odds) and Patienceofasaint and Dazzling Geisha (who finished second and third to On Location (when both were on debut) to give Taylor the trifecta in that race).
